Butter: Good or Bad for Health?

It has always been controversial whether to include ghee or butter in the diet or not. Some claim it to be good for health, whereas others say it increases the cholesterol levels in the body. Ghee and butter vary with respect to their smoking point, lactose content and fat concentration. Ghee has a higher smoking point, and if you are allergic to lactose sugar, then ghee is completely lactose-free. This blog will focus on the good and bad aspects of having butter.

Butter is made by churning milk, which separates the milk fat from whey and many different types of butter are available on a commercial level which varies based on the manufacturing process, source of milk and ingredients used. It has a rich creamy texture and taste, so it is used in cooking and can be added to many different dishes.

Nutrition Facts

• Butter is high in fat and therefore more calories, but it contains certain important fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A and E and might be fortified with D as well.
• A good source of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), which has health benefits such as anticancer properties and may help reduce the growth of liver, breast, colon cancer, etc. Also, it may help decrease body fat to aid weight management.
• Rich in butyrate that helps improve digestive health and decrease inflammation.
• It is high in saturated fat, which is known to be increase cholesterol but fortunately, many studies have shown that limited intake of saturated fat i.e. below 10% of your daily calories and combining it other heart-healthy fats such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats such as nuts, seeds, fatty fish or olive oil is a good way to eat healthily.

Why not replace butter with margarine?

It is better to have butter than margarine as it doesn’t have trans fats found in cookies, cakes and crackers. Margarine does contain trans fat, which comes by the process of hydrogenation.

In conclusion, butter contains certain nutrients which offer health benefits, but it should be consumed in small quantities only as it has saturated fat along with high in calories and excess can lead to weight gain instead.